CSIRO has had outstanding success in breeding high yielding, high quality cotton with over 95 per cent of the Australian cotton crop consisting of CSIRO developed varieties.
Disease and pest resistance
CSIRO is developing cotton varieties with improved disease resistance which effectively combat serious diseases.
There has been great progress in developing varieties resistant to Baterial Blight and Verticillium Wilt.
Fusarium wilt is a relatively new disease in Australia and is one of the most devastating diseases to affect cotton.
CSIRO is ensuring all its new varieties have a minimum level of fusarium resistance. We are also working towards breeding a variety that is completely immune to fusarium.
CSIRO is investigating plant characteristics that might affect insect attack.
We have already developed cotton that is resistant to Bacterial Blight and Verticillum Wilt. Screening of new varieties will ensure this is maintained.
Varieties resistant to Cotton Bunchy Top are being developed, and a watching brief is maintained on other diseases like Alternaria.
CSIRO is investigating plant characteristics that might affect insect attack, such as okra leaf shape which provuides some resistance to Helicoverpa and mites.
Research is also being undertanken on the the absence of nectaries (the nectar secreting part of the flower) that discourages mirids – another pest of cotton.
Gene technology
Gene technology has been successfully used to breed genetically modified (GM) insect resistant and herbicide resistant CSIRO cotton varieties using Bollgard II™ and Roundup Ready Flex™ traits from Monsanto.
GM varieties have had a major effect on cotton farming. For example, insect resistant Bollgard II™ reduces pesticide use by up to 80 per cent.
Gene technology will be used to speed up the screening and development of new conventional and transgenic varietiesand CSIRO has expanded its research in this area to develop molecular tools and traits to address production and sustainability targets.
Fibre quality
With conventional breeding, CSIRO has substantially improved cotton yield and fibre quality such that is a much sought out product on the international spinning market.
Fibre quality, particularly strength, length and 'micronaire' (a measure of fibre fineness and maturity), is critical in maximising price returns to growers and accessing premium markets.
Efforts are continuing to improve cotton fibre and to develop premium fibre varieties to gain access to better prices. CSIRO is also using gene technology to help identify genes responsible for fibre development.
Regional adaptation
Cotton is grown in a range of environments in Australia under both irrigated and dryland conditions.
CSIRO breeds cotton varieties specially suited to the conditions of each region to maximise performance.
Characteristics to suit the ‘cool’, ‘hot’ and ‘central’ regions of Australia’s cotton growing regions include:
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high yield and water use efficiency
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disease resistance
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heat and stress tolerance
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appropriate maturity for the season length.
Related information sheets
Related scientific papers
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